Suburbs with walkable "cores" along metra lines (Chicago: school tuition, live)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Even if the OP (or I guess hubby...) is some kind of ultra dedicated supporter of walking / public transit it seems kinda NUTTY to make that commute mode a condition of where they choose to live.

I agree. As much as I like mass transit as an option, there are circumstances where it makes more sense to drive, and this is one of them.

I have a feeling that the train option will be tried and abandoned, so I hope the OP picks a place that also features an easy drive to the hospital. Probably can't beat Oak Park for that, but if they want something more suburban it makes sense to look due west.

[Nickythebean]

Ya, I'm thinking the walking won't last, mostly due to the "sketchy" neighborhood. Does anyone know how long a driving commute would be from GE or Wheaton to the hospital in rush hour? How about off hours (a little earlier in the morning and a little earlier at night)?

[4122]

It would be about 35-40 minutes w/o traffic from Wheaton/Glen Ellyn. In rush hour traffic, it would probably be a little under an hour. Another option you could look at is Downers Grove. It's closer to work and it's more affordable and their downtown is nice.

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by 4122

It would be about 35-40 minutes w/o traffic from Wheaton/Glen Ellyn. In rush hour traffic, it would probably be a little under an hour. Another option you could look at is Downers Grove. It's closer to work and it's more affordable and their downtown is nice.

I agree with the drive times.

Downers Grove is a great alternative, but pricing will be the same (or higher) and depending where in town they look, the commute could be much longer (even from the north side of Downers).

[Lookout Kid]

Downers is a good option, although north Downers Grove near the downtown area is still pretty expensive. And that eliminates the train option entirely, as it is on the BNSF.

If you can look at towns on the BNSF Metra line, that opens up a lot more options.

[4122]

You could also look at the parts of Westmont with DG schools. Westmont is even more affordable and closer to work. It's also just a few minutes from downtown DG.

[pvande55]

If you want to use Metra you are better off on one of the Milwaukee lines, just about all trains stop at Western. By contrast, many UP-W trains skip Kedzie. Don't know about connecting transportation. Does the hospital run a shuttle? Use a folding bike? Or even the "shoe leather express."

[urza216]

Both Homewood and Flossmoor have that.

[ToriaT]

Most of the western suburbs are not going to be much different in price than Glen Ellyn. All of the nice ones are expensive especially if you insist on living near the walkable core. That's where the larger historic homes are.

I think the western suburbs are great and there are many to pick from. I like La Grange, its really nice and a bit closer in than some of the other ones mentioned if you have to drive to the city. You might also look at Riverside. I think I'd want to live in these areas if I was driving to the city and not in Wheaton or Glen Ellyn area where I live now.

I am not a fan of Homewood or Flossmoor. I had a friend that lived there and it seemed so very far away, I think the distance is too great to the north side of Chicago.

[Big Play]

Originally Posted by urza216

Both Homewood and Flossmoor have that.

Not sure those places measure up to all of the others in the western and northern suburbs, and probably not on the radar screen for the majority of professionals.